Final Fantasy - hands-on

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The first game in the series marks its 20 year celebration with a sharp-looking new PSP edition

The gameplay is similarly basic. As you start the game you create a party from four different unnamed characters of different classes - warrior, thief, red mage, etc. Each has his own abilities (and trying to beat the game using parties that make it more difficult is one of the ways enterprising gamers have managed squeeze some replay value out of this game in the past 20 years.) The abilities are limited compared to what you'd expect from a modern FF game, of course (noticing a trend?) but offer enough differentiation to make balancing your party something worth thinking about.

Basically, there's not a lot to say based on a hands-on with this title. We've been here before and done all of that. All of the improvements (hidden dungeons, mainly) from the GBA remake are here, as well as all-new graphics and music that seem to make this the definitive version of the game (until it gets remade in 3D for some platform down the road.) If you've recently plowed through the GBA version you'll probably be bored; otherwise, it's a charming but dated RPG enjoying its 20 year anniversary in style, and might appeal. It beats the hell out of playing the Engrish-infested Legend of Heroes games, at any rate.